Call for end to killings in the name of honour

LARKANA: The ‘black’ custom of karo-kari should be eradicated for good in the name of which countless innocent men and women are mercilessly slaughtered, said MPA Mehtab Akbar Rashdi on Sunday.

At the launch of a book Lateefi Fahem by Ada Fazal Qazi at Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto Memorial Library she said that the inhuman custom was mostly used to settle personal scores.

Speaking as a chief guest at the literary sitting organised by the Sindhi Adabi Sangat, she said: “I am my proud to be here and share my views on the book. Writing on Bhitai is not a child’s play as it demands deep inspiration, understanding and power of expression to portray suffering and pain.”

She said that Ada’s writings truly reflected society because he portrayed realistic characters in his short stories.

She lamented the gradually vanishing of non-violence and religious tolerance which used to be hallmarks of this land of Sufis, and Sindh’s identity as being a tolerant society was being tarnished.

Tasleem Hussain Gaad, 25, and his cousin Ms Anees Khatoon, 21, were shot dead on the pretext of karo-kari and their bodies were thrown in a guava orchard in the jurisdiction of Mahota police station on Sunday.

The police shifted the bodies to the mortuary of Chandka Medical College Hospital after collecting evidence. The bodies were handed over to their heirs after autopsy.

The victims were residents of Akil village, said Waseem Gaad, brother of Tasleem.

He said his brother worked at a laboratory in Karachi. He was kidnapped two days ago while Anees also went missing in Resham Gali Larkana two days ago, he said.

Police have picked up two suspects identified as Waheed Gaad and Noshad Gaad in connection with the double murder.